Hood latch



May 13; 1924;.

- .J. F. WHITE HOOD LATCH Filed Sept; 5. I921 '5206/3011 Job/z fl Wzfj 4W Patented May 13, 1924. warren STATES I 1,493,508 rarest ori ice.

.iomv F. WHJITE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon T WHITE rnonucgrs COMPANY,

, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILL NoIs.

noon LATCH.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,294.- v

v To all whom it may-concern.

either by a latch of means for angularl Be it known that I, JOHN F. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements, in Hood Latches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has to do with latches for motor vehicle hoods and the like, and is directed more specifically to an improved hood' latch of that type which is carried by the hood and is adapted to engage under continuous spring tension with a stationary keeper disposed within the confines of the same. 1

The principal object of the invention re sides in the provision of such a latch whichv is characterized by movable keeper-engaging portion, the engagement of which may be eifected turning of the same in either direction through an arc of 90 against limiting stops, or by a downward and ina. single reciprocally wardly pivoting movement imparted to the handle of the same. a 1

Another object is the provision, in such a returning the keeper-engaging portion 0 the same automatically to an operative position relative to the keeper when the said portion is released following the unfastening operation. The invention further contemplates the provision of such a hood latch which is characterized by a simple construction, a neat and pleasing appearance, and a high de tee of efiiciency inoperation.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the latch is more fully understood from the following description and accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein is set forth what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the several features of the invention. This particular structural embodiment, however, is pre sented primarily for the purpose of exemplifying the invention, and is not intended to restrict unnecessarily the spirit of the same or scopeof the clalms.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side tion the adjacent hood and chassis portion dis- ,against the uppermost portion elevation ofthe latch of this invention, showing in vertical section of which the said aperture 11 is formed is pref- 1 erably solid and is characterized by an upper surface 11 which forms aliat bottom to the interior of the said member at right angles to the axis thereof and an under surface 11 which. is disposed .at a sharp angle to the said upper surface, thereby giving to the lower end of the tubular member 10 an obliquely truncated appearance. The

oblique end of the member may be either planular or slightly curved, and is so posiits under surface in the'general direction thereof for'a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The lower extremity of the above mentioned rod 12 is sharply bent into an upwardly inclined hook port-ion 13 which, while incidentally serving to limit the up ward movement of the rod in the tubular member by abutting as shown in Fig. 3

lique end of the latter, constitutes the keeper engaging means of the device. The upper end of the. rod 12 is inserted into a recess in the co-axia'lly disposed stem 14 of a handle 15, and is fixedly positioned therein by means of a short transverse pin 16. The lower end of this stem 14 is provided with a cylindrical enlargement 17 which is adapted to fit snugly withinthe bore of the tubular member whereby to serve' as a centering guide for the upper portion of the rod during the reciprocal movementof the same.

In order to prevent a turnin of more than 180 of the rod 12 and han le 15 relationed relative to the keeper astopresent of the obtive to the tube 10 an annular member 183s provided whichencompasses the upper/porthe said rod at a point immediately below the'enlarged portion 17 of the of the handle. This member is of the same diameter as the portion 17 and the bore of the tube, and is provided at one side with a rectangular lug 19 which extends radially into a longitudinally dispesed guiding recess 20 formed in the bore'of thetube 10 and upwardly into a segmental relieved portion 21 formed around the rod 12 in the underside of the bottom of the stem 14. It will be appreciated from this construction that the annular member 18 forms a. key which, while adapted to move longitudinally of the bore of the tube with the rod 12 and stem 14, serves to previde a connection between the tube 10 androd 12 which permits a relative turning therebetween of 180 and no more. I

A helical spring 22 encompasses the shank of the rod 12, hearing at its upper extremity against the underside of the aforesaid annular member 18 and at its lower extremity; against the annular bottom surface 11 of the tube 10, 7, g i

It will be appreciated that the spring 22 in drawing the rod 12 upwardly to a position wherein the hook 13 bears against the obliqueunder surface 11 of the end of the tube wil due to the camming action of the hook w ien drawn inwardly against the oblique surface, cause the rod to turn about its axis and assume a position of rest with the hook against the uppermost portion of the oblique surface at right angles to the hook-engaging portion of'the keeper.

The structure hereabove described, which comprisesthe latch, is pivotally tnounted to the side 22 of the hook by means of a short transverse pin 23 which passes through and rotatably supports thereon an apertured e r 24 projecting integrally from one side of the tube 10 intermediate the length thereof. The

ends of this pin are journalled in two spaced brackets 25 which extend into the hood through a slot 26 thereof from the sides of an aligned slot 27 in an escutcheon plate 28 whieh is secured to the outer side of the hood by bolts 29. The pin supporting brackets 25 are positioned adjacent the upper end of the slots 26 in the hood in order that, when the upper end of the latching device pivots outwardly, a projection 30 on the ear 24 will engage with the upper end of the slot 26 on the inner side thereof and serve to limit the said pivoting movement of the latching device in the outward direction from the side of the hood. By pivotally supporting the latching device* in this fashion it will be appreciated that the same is adapted to extend obliquely downwards into the interior of the hood through the slot 26 which, incidentally, is of sufficient Width to permit free passage of the device therethrough.

. A flat apron portion 31 is formed integrally with the tube 10 on the opposite side thereof from the car 24 and extends.

downwardly at an angle with the tube in spaced parallel relation to the side 22 of the hood. This apron portion gradually increases in width as it-approaches. its lower rounded extremity and functions to provide an efficient covering of attractive design for the lower and otherwise exposed and unoccupied portion of the slot 26 below the tube 10. The keeper 32 employed with the latching device of this invention may be of any suitable construction, but is here shojivn as an L-shaped member having a tongue'33 pinched inwardly from the upright portion thereof to provide an inverted U-shaped yoke 34 on theunderside 35 of which the hook portion 13 of the latch is adapted to v engage. The keeper is rigidly carried on the vehicle chassis 36 by means of machine bolts 37 which pass: into an adjacent portion of the Vehicle chassis through the flanged member 38 adapted to limit the inward movement of the side of the hood.

The '0 eration of the latch will now be describet Assuming, first, that the sameis unfastened, 1t 1s merely necessary to. press the hamlle 16 downwardly, whereupon the hook 13, which is disposed normally at right angles to the keeper yoke due to the cooperation ofthe hook with the end of the tubular member 10, will engage with the underside of the keeper yoke. If, on moving downwardly, the hook contacts with the upper side of the keeper yoke due to the fact that the side of the'hood'is already pressed into its fastened position against the limiting flange 38 or the handle is being held in itsoutermest pivoting position relati e to the side of the hood, the lower end of the latch will automatically be moved inwardlyby the camming action of the bevelledulnderface of the hook 13 on the top of the keeper, and the hook will immediately snap into engagement with the keeper yoke upon reaching a position whcrein it has been sufliciently depressed to clear the under side\35 of the same. cThe unfastening may be accomplished in either of; the two hereinafter described ways. One may turn the handle 15 a quarter turn in either direction, which will result without appreciable effort keeper yoke through a downwardly camin the release. of the hook 13 from the ming and turning movement. of the upwardly inclined top surface of the former relative to the edge 35 of the latter. The latch may also be unfastened by accompanying a downward depression of the handle with an inward movement of the same, which will serve to extend the book 13 downwardly out of engagement with the keeper yoke and also outwardly therefrom whereby, whenv the pressure on the handle is released the hook 13 will be drawn upwardly by the spring 22 out of engagement with the lieeper. The latch of this invention furit'hermore provides an excellent handle for raising the hood, and obviates, the employment of the customary, additional handles for this purpose. I

I claim: I 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of an axially rec-iprocable. member pivotally carried by the hood and provided at its lower extremity with a hook portion, stops for limiting the axial rotationof the said member, and a keeper fixedly secured to the said frame portion and adapted to cooperate A with the said hook portion.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with aframe portion and ,an engine hood movable relative thereto. of

lan axially 'reciprocable member pivotally carried by the hood and provided at its lower extremity with a hook portion. means for confining the axial rotation of the said member within an angle of substantially 180, and a keeper fixedly secured to the said frame portion and adapted to cooperate with the said hook portion.

3. In a device of the character described, the. combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of an axially reciprocable member pivotally carried by the hood and provided at its lower extremity with asingle hook portion projecting obliquely upwards'at an acute angle to the axis of the said member. means for confining the axial rotation of the said 'mem'ber Within an angle of substantially 180, and a keeper fixedly secured tothe said frame portion and adapted to cooperate with the said hook portion. a

4. In a device of the character described. the combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of

a hood latch pivotally attached to the hood and projecting obliquely through an aperture in the same into-the interior thereof, said hood latchincluding an axially reciprocable member pivotally carried by the hood and provided at its lower extremity with a single hook portion, and means for confining the axial rotation of said member within an angle of substantially 180. and a keeper fixedly secured within 'theinterior of the hood to the said frame portion and adapted to cooperate with the said hook portion. Y

5. In a device of the character described. the combination with a frame portion and an engine hoodlmovable relative thereto, of a hood latch co1nprising-anobliquelydisposed tubular member extending through ,an

aperture of the hood,-said member being suspended within the aperture by a pivotal connection with the hood, a latch member mounted within the tubular member for axial and angular movement, means for confining the angular movement: of the latchmember Within an angle of substantially 180, said latch member having a handle at its upper extremity without the hoodand a aperture, an upwardly spring-pressed latchmember mounted within the tubular member for axial and angular movement, said latch member having a handle at its upper extremity without the hood and an obliquely extending hook at its lower extremity within the hood. and a keeper fixedly secured to the frame for engagement by the hook,

wherebyto'ena'ble the disengaging of the latch and keeper by the downward swinging. or angular movement of the former.

7. In .a deviceof the character described, I

the combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of a hood latch comprising an obliquely disposed tubular member extending through an aperture of the hood, the member having a pivotal connection at its upper side to the hood above the aperture and provided on its lower side with an apron overlying the -aperture, an upwardly spring-pressed latch member mounted within the tubular memberfor axial and angular movement, said latch member having a handle at its upper extremity without the hood and an obliquely extending hook at its lower extremity within the hood, a keeper fixedly secured to the frame for engagement by-the hook, and means to confine the angularmovement of the latch within substantially 180, whereby to enable the disengaging of the latch and keeper by thedownward swinging or angular movement of the former.

8. In a device of the character described.

the combinationwit-h a-frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of an axially reciprocable member carried by the hood and provided at its lower extremity with a hook portion, a keeper fixedly secured to the said frame portion and adapted to cooperate with the said hook portion, and

.means to cause the hook portion to rotate into a position wherein its free end directed toward the keeper.

In, testimony whereof subscribed my name.

JOHN F. \VHITE;

I have hereunto 

